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(No Model.)

T. O. L. SCHRADER.

PENCIL.

No. 372,710. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

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THEODOR O. L. SCHRADER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

PENCIL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 372,710, dated-November 8, 1887.

Serial No. 937,681.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, THEODOR O. L. SCHRA- DER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Pencil, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.r

My invention relates to that class of pencils which earrylooseleads, and more particularly to that style of pencil which automatically limits the extent to which the lead can project from the holder.

The invention consists in novel means for holding the lead to prevent its dropping too far out; also in novel means for operating the clamping-jaws, and in details of construction and combina-tion of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiieation, in which Figure lis a central longitudinal section of my improved pencil without the hammer. Fig. 2 is a partly-broken side View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the lower end of the leadvcontaining tube in my pencil. Fig. 4t is a longitudinal sectional view of same, taken on line c c, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line kif, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lead-gripper. Fig. 7 is a side view,

.partly in cent-ral longitudinal section, of a modification ofthe pencil. Fig. Sis a central longitudinal view ot' a pencil having all my improvements. Fig. 9 is a side view of the upper end of thelead-carrying tube to be used in connection with the pencil shown in Fig. 8.

A in the drawings represents the lead-carry ing tube, and B a lead within same. Part of the tube A is surrounded by a sheath or casing, D. rlhe lower part of the tube A, where it projects from the sheath D, and the lower part of sheath D are covered bya tube, E, which is contracted a short distance below the end of the sheath D and forms the shoulder a. The tube E is securely fastened to t-he sheath D, and is slit, as at I), longitudinally below the shoulder a, its lower end forming the gripping-jaws F. Each slit b has the two enlargements d and e. (Best seen in Fig. 2.) A spiral spring, j', or equivalent rubber cushion, surrounds the tube A within the tube E and above the shoulder a. At its upper end l it presses against the shoulder g on tube A,

which shoulder g can abut against the lower end ofsheath D, Fig. 1. The lower end of the tube A carries a perforated ring, h, through the holes of which extend the jaws F on the tube E. The enlargements e of slits I) are to receive the bridges or solid parts t' of the perforated ring h. By pressing down on tube A the inner thickness ot the ring 7L will enter between the jaws F and force them apart to alow the lead B to pass down. Then this pressure is released, the spring f, pressing against shoulder a and shoulderg, will i'orcethe tube A upward, which causes the outer thickness of the ring h to crowd against the outer side of the jaws F, which movement closes said jaws upon the lead B and holds them in the closing position.

To insure that the lead B when released by the downward pressure on tube A and bythe Opening ot' the jaws F will not drop too far out'of the holder, I provide the tube A,a short distance above the ring 71., with a sleeve or gripper, I, which tits loosely over said tube A and slides within the contracted lower part of the tube E. The sleeve or gripper I has outwardly-extending lugs j, that pass through the enlargements d of the slits b. At its lower end the gripper I has a number of springclaws,j2, which pass inward through slots Z of the tube A to grasp the lead, Fig. 1.

There are as many lugsj as there are slits b and enlargements d, and as many clawsj2 as there are slots Z, also as many bridges t on ring has there are slots b and enlargements e.

To set the lead and gripper to work, the gripper is first slid up on the tube A until the claws 7'2 pass outof and above the slots Z, when the tube A is clear on the inside and the lead B may be dropped into the tube Afrom above until it is stopped by the closed jaws F. The gripper I is then slipped down along the tube A until the springelaws j2 pass through the slits Z and grip thelead B securely. The lugs j are now near the upper ends of the slots d.

By pressing down on the tube A the claws F will now be opened by the ring h, as before stated, and the lead will slide down, carrying the gripper I with it, until the gripper is arrested by the lugsj striking the lower ends of the slots d. By now releasing thepressure on ICO tubeA the claws F will act to hold the lead rmlyin place. (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.) To return the lead within the pencil, it is only necessary to invert the pencil and press upon the tube A, when the claws F will open and allow the lead to slide inward until the lugs j strike the upper ends of the slots d.

The upper end of tube A, where it projects above the sheath D, is surrounded bya sleeve, J, seculged to the sheath D. L is a cap-piece covering the upper end of the -tube A, and heldin place by friction or otherwise to prevent the lead from slipping out of the pencil at that end.

It is not necessary to reset the gripper I every time the pencil is used, but only when the point is too short for use.

If desired, the lead can be inserted in the pencil at the writing end by opening the claws F and slipping the gripper I back on tube A until the clawsj2 are out of the slots Z,which leaves a clear passage for the entry of the lead. The gripper I can then be let down to engage the lead, as before described.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the tube A, instead of passing through the sheath D, has an enlarged part, m, above the shoulder g and surrounds the sheath and is secured thereto. The tube Il,insteadof being secured to the sheath D, is fitted loosely over same and over the partm of tube A. The upper end of the tube E is turned inward, forming a iiange, n, which flange prevents its slipping off the sheath Ddownwardly. Vith this construction I am enabled to make a doubleend pencil, if desired.

In Fig. Sv the spring f is arranged at the upper end of the pencil and bears at one end against the end of sheath D and at the other end against a ring or flange, p, on the inner end of cap-piece L. The cap L is provided with one/or more slots, q, which receive pins r from the tube A, to limit the movement of the cap-piece L on tube A.

The sleeve .I has an inwardlyprojecting Hang-e, s, which limits the upward movement of cap L. Part of tube A is surrounded by a sliding tube, M, which is preferably of heavy material to give it weight. At the lower end the tube M is provided with slots t, to receive the lugsj on gripper I. Near the upper end of tube A are a number of outwardly-project ing springs, o, which are arranged to bear against the inner wall of the tube 'M, and which also extend into the cap L. TheV tube M, I term a sliding hammer, for convenience.

This pencil operates as follows: Suppose the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. S-that is, the gripper I pushed upward, so as to leave a clear passage in the tube A for the lead which is contained in the tube A, the sliding hammer M, held by the springs o in the upward position, and the cap L and tube A pressed upward by the spring f--by turning the pen cil-point downward the lead slides outward until it is arrested by the closed claws F. Pressure is now brought to bear upon the cap L, and the same moved slightly without moving the tube A, owing to the slot g. 'Abevel, u, on the inner side of cap L now strikes the springs o, compressing them, therebyreleasingthem from the hammer M. The hammer immediately drops on the lugsj and drives the gripper I down,'when the claws j2 pass into the slots Z and grip the lead. By this time the pin r has reached the upper end of the slot q, and by still continuing the pressure on cap L the tube A is now moved down and the ringiJ caused to open the jaws F, as before described. The weight of the hammer M now carries the gripper I still farther down, and with it the lead, until the lugs] strike the shoulder w on tube E. The jaws F close on the lead as s'oon as the springf is permitted to elevate the tube A. To return the leadinto the pencil, pressure is applied to cap L, while the pencil is held in an inverted position until the claws F open, when the hammer M will fall downward, carrying the gripper and lead with it. The hammer will then pass over springs 0, so as to be afterward held by them until said hammer is again to be used, in manner already described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is* l. The tube A, having the perforated ring h, in combination with the jaws F, that passl through the perforations of saidring, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The tube A, having perforated ring k and cross-pieces i therein, in combination with the tube E, having longitudinal slits b e, adapted to receive the cross-pieces t', and with the lead-holding jaws F, that pass through the roo perforations of said ring, substantially as deyj, and tube E, having longitudinal slits d, substantiallyY as herein shown and described.

v4. The tube A, having slots l and ring h, in combination with the gripper I, having claws 3'2 and lugs j, and with the tube E, having longitudinal slots b d e, substantially as described. 1 l

5. The tube A, having springs o, in combination with the sliding hammer Maud gripper I, substantially as described.

6. The tube A, having slots l, springs o, and ring h, in combination with the sliding hammer M, having slots t, gripper I, having claws j2 and lugs j, and cap L, adapted to compress the springs 0 to release the hammer M, as set v forth.

THEO. O. L. SCHRADER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR v. BRIEsnN, CHARLEs G. M. THOMAS. 

